Pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable having overmolded access location
First Claim
1. A pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable assembly, comprising:
- a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the distribution cable and at least one factory-assembled mid-span access location along the length of the distribution cable;
at least one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable accessed and terminated from the distribution cable at the mid-span access location;
at least one optical connector mounted upon the end of the at least one accessed and terminated optical fiber;
a receptacle for receiving the at least one optical connector therein; and
an injection molded shell encapsulating the mid-span access location, the at least one accessed and terminated optical fiber, the at least one connector and at least a portion of the receptacle, the receptacle providing access to the at least one optical connector without having to enter the shell.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable assembly includes a plurality of optical fibers and at least one mid-span access location along the length of the distribution cable. At least one of the optical fibers is accessed, terminated and then connectorized at the mid-span access location to an optical connector disposed within a receptacle. The mid-span access location, the accessed, terminated and connectorized optical fiber, the optical connector and at least a portion of the receptacle are encapsulated with a protective overmolded shell. A tether including at least one optical fiber connectorized at a first end of the tether is optically connected to the optical connector through the receptacle. A second end of the tether opposite the first end terminates in a network optical connection terminal, thereby compensating for a span length measurement difference between the actual location of the mid-span access and the desired location of the optical connection terminal.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. A pre-connectorized fiber optic distribution cable assembly, comprising:
-
a distribution cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the distribution cable and at least one factory-assembled mid-span access location along the length of the distribution cable;
at least one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable accessed and terminated from the distribution cable at the mid-span access location;
at least one optical connector mounted upon the end of the at least one accessed and terminated optical fiber;
a receptacle for receiving the at least one optical connector therein; and
an injection molded shell encapsulating the mid-span access location, the at least one accessed and terminated optical fiber, the at least one connector and at least a portion of the receptacle, the receptacle providing access to the at least one optical connector without having to enter the shell. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A fiber optic distribution cable assembly, comprising:
-
a distribution cable comprising a tube containing a plurality of optical fibers and at least one factory-assembled mid-span access location along the length of the distribution cable;
a plurality of optical fibers accessed and terminated from the distribution cable at the mid-span access location;
a first multi-fiber connector mounted upon the ends of the optical fibers accessed and terminated from the distribution cable;
a receptacle for receiving and aligning the first multi-fiber connector with a multi-fiber connector of a fiber optic cable in the field following installation of the distribution cable; and
a tether comprising a plurality of optical fibers disposed within the tether, a second multi-fiber connector mounted upon the ends of the optical fibers at a first end of the tether and a second end opposite the first end terminating in a network optical connection terminal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A method for mitigating a span length measurement difference in a pre-engineered fiber optic communications network employing a fiber optic distribution cable assembly comprising a distribution cable having a plurality of optical fibers disposed within a sheath and at least one mid-span access location along the length of the distribution cable, the method comprising:
-
removing a section of the sheath of the distribution cable at the mid-span access location;
accessing at least one of the plurality of optical fibers of the distribution cable within the section of the sheath removed from the distribution cable;
terminating the at least one optical fiber of the distribution cable accessed within the section of the sheath removed from the distribution cable;
connectorizing the at least one accessed and terminated optical fiber of the distribution cable;
injection molding around the mid-span access location and the at least one accessed, terminated and connectorized optical fiber of the distribution cable to produce an overmolded shell that provides access to the at least one accessed, terminated and connectorized optical fiber without entering the shell. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
-
Specification